We regrouped at the fountain. There were only four of us together escaping from the clutches of the kobolds. Broknar and Rochendir, the rangers, Stonebreaker, the rogue, and myself. Maybe Hawthorne got out some way…

The healing waters restored us and we begin to explore the rest of this section. We’re looking for a way out as well as the means to cleanse the realm from this particular band of kobolds. We make our way through corridors and rooms on this level, and it appears as though the hobgoblins have been extinguished.

There’s some type of demon trapped in a circle of protection. Wisely, I convince our small band to leave this evil despite the temptations it promises. We come across an alchemist’s lab and acquire supplies and information that may be useful to us in our later journeys. We slay a few beasts and found some treasures.

We were almost back to where we started from when we opened the door to the shrieks, and then those that had set up the warning appeared. Trolls! We had vanquished one of their numbers earlier, but this time there were three of them and only four of us. Back into a hallway, we go, hoping to prevent them all from attacking at once. I drew my sword and braced for battle, next to Broknar. We began to exchange blows with two of the trolls, but they were fast and strong. Rochendir wildly throws a dagger that pierces into Broknar’s side as he battles the trolls. I strike and parry back and forth with one of the trolls, then it comes. A troll’s razor-like claw slashes for my throat and I raise my hand to shield myself. It slices the fingers of my left hand. This can’t be the end, it can’t. I waver and my sight blackens as I see Broknar fall beside me…

I awaken to Stonebreaker and Rochendir tending to Broknar and myself. We’ve been saved from the clutches of death. Somehow, they managed to overpower the trolls. I give Rochendir my flask of oil and he burns the decapitated necks of the monsters before they can arise again. As I bandage my hand, I suggest that before we make yet another retreat we make sure that we finish these foul beasts once and for all.

‘No one has suffered more greatly at the hands of this enemy (as I raise my left hand minus digits). We know they will come back, and we may not be so lucky next time. They are in worse shape than we are right now, thanks to Stonebreaker and Rochendir. I say we dismember them further and bring their bodies to the room with the alchemy supplies and set them ablaze there. We may also use some of their writhing limbs to distract the creatures around the casket near the pool room. In any event, I’m hoping that the healing waters of the pool will restore my hand, or possibly the ring that Stonebreaker wears. If not, my ability to wield magic will be almost nil. We are here, let’s not give these foul creatures another chance at us.’

Stonebreaker gives me his magical ring and the band agrees to wearily make our way back to the smoldering trolls. We dismantle the corpses and bring them back to the alchemy lab. There we find enough materials to finish them off in a funeral pyre. I take a few pieces of charred remains for future use and we return to our makeshift camp at the fountain.

In a few hours, my fingers have returned and I remove the ring and give it to Stonebreaker. I bow my head silently to the half-orc. With my powers to weave the magic returned, we continue on our quest.

After several small encounters, we come to some magically sealed doors. I use the power of Blackstar and watch as a gray force creeps from the wand and temporarily unlocks the door. We pass by a circle of runes that do not appear to be evil. Passing through two more sets of doors, we come across a shrine to Mystra, goddess of magic. I solemnly take a book from an alter and I instruct anyone who can to take some water from the basin. Beyond that, we leave the shrine undisturbed.

We find another lab after passing by some enchanted floor plates of gold and silver. I warn the thief to leave the plates as they possess magic. I find more useful potions, supplies, and books. Before we can examine the next set of doors, I hear Stonebreaker begin attempting to ‘liberate’ the gold plate. I leave the room to tell him to stop, but it’s no use. He’s fixated, perhaps charmed by the magic or his own greed, but does not heed my warnings. ‘It’s time to leave!’ I shout. The thief continues to hack at the plate, and as I pass him I can hear flames erupt from the doors in the lab.

While Stonebreaker ignores my warning, soon enough Broknar follows my lead. Rochendir finally convinces the rogue to give up as fiery, molten men start to pursue us. Without thinking, a dangerous trait our group seems to continue to exhibit, Broknar unknowingly desecrates Mystra’s shrine by throwing down the water basin. In his rush to slow down the flaming creatures, he may have defiled a holy place and angered a powerful deity. As we speed out past the symbols, it seems no coincidence that Blackstar is unable to reopen the doors it was once able to. We’re forced to find another way away from the creatures.

We’ve put some distance between us and the creatures that Stonebreaker angered, but we’re not sure of where we are going. We wind down a passage and come to a door. It opens, and we now approach what seems to be the lair of ghouls…

We dispatch a pack of ghouls. Careful–avoid their paralyzing touch.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.